The Earth is My Grandmother
Since the late 1960's many people have used that phrase as an expression
of relationship and an exhortation to responsibility.
I'm not going to tell you that this was the Indin Way because there were
so many distinct and different People's sharing this Turtle Island that
it would be an insult to them to lump them all together, as Hollywood has
done- pretending that they are all one people with one philosophy and religion.
That is not to say that our People's did not have similarities in their
outlook on life. Romantics like to think that American Indin's were
all ecologically pure people. This wasn't any more truthful
then than it is now. Tribal peoples are efficient and frugal out
of necessity. But what separates Tribal man from Modern man-
is his relationship with, his daily dependence on, and his appreciation
of- the environment that provides him with life's necessities. In one way
or another - all that we have is derived from Nishkehehmon- Grandmother
Earth, and the Families who give up their lives to provide for the Human
Beings. Even the greatness of this Nation, often attributed to the
ideals and sacrifices of a few men in the 1700's, owes all of its greatness
to the incredible resources, geographies, climates and teeming life to
be found on this continent.
Think about it- few of us get to witness the actual planting and harvest, the wilting and dying of the foods and plants that sustain us. Few get blood on their hands and see life fade from the eyes of the animals that are chosen to be taken on our behalf. Few get an opportunity to participate in the cleaning, preparation and creation of the foods we take for granted on the grocery shelves. And this applies as well to our clothing, our medicines, our fuels, transportation, and entertainment- every single part of our lives.
This distance from the soil, from the harvest, from the kill- diminishes our capacity to appreciate what it is the Earth provides us. And this is perhaps one of the few consistant values that many American Indins share: we have been told by the Creator that we have an obligation to be grateful to these Relatives, and to this Earth. It follows that we should have an appreciation and relationship of gratitude with them all. We are cautioned not to take their sacrifices lightly, even as our own bodies will someday break down and ours Spirits journey on. Everywhere we go, we are reminded to take notice of sunrise and sunset, of changes in the Moon and tides, to observe the Sun, the stars, the sky, and the wind. We comment on the rain and the snow. We talk of the spring thaw or frozen winter, the heat of the summer, or the colors of fall. We watch the animal families as they move about on the earth- or in the sky- and we see our place among them. Despite the destruction of our old way of life- we are grateful and happy to still be a part of this wonder.
Sacred Stones
Grandfather says,
Rock People,
are
alive.
Everywhere,
he sees
Family.
Caresses shrub,
hugs tree,
sheds shoes to feel
grass,
water,
rock.
Civilized men,
enamored
of blood
and flesh,
never acknowledge
their relationship
to silent relatives.
Grandpa says
cigar-store Indins
look that way
because
they're practicing
to be rocks....
The key word is Relatives. Human beings have relationships with one
another. Often modern people whose relationships have gone awry feel
alone. They have no relationship with the Earth or her families.
Their appreciation for their environment is more like one viewing a pretty
postcard than one experiencing the awesome creation and beauty of our world.
If only they were to develop their relationships with their non-human
relatives they would find that, even in the absence of human beings, one
is never alone!
"Be careful with your words
there are always ears...
tree beneath window
stone beneath blanket."
" The Earth is alive! If you go away from people and sit in a quiet
place you will hear its life. There are lives that fly, that swim,
that live under the ground, that grow green or colorful, that bear fruit,
that walk on four legs or on two. The very soil has microbial and
bacteriological life necessary to nurture the seeds for sprouting and growth.
The life of the fire opens certain pine cones to release their seed.
The air, water, and rock provide gasses, nutrients, moisture and stability
to create the living environment that sustains those that grow in one spot,
or who fly, swim, crawl or walk. Because the plant does not have
eyes to cry from, or bleeds green--not red, is that to say it does not
mourn the passing of its fruit or the ending of its life? Even doubting
science has proven that trees and plants respond to human relationships.
Now it is true that a rock, or a shrub, or a tree may not respond in the
same way that a human being responds. That is why we humans, as caretakers
of this world, feel a special relationship to each other- we share
similar needs and the Creator has placed love in our hearts between us.
But each indivdual family has its place in Creation- its purpose and its
tasks. For many it is simply to survive. And from each family
there are lessons that can be learned. There is great comfort to
be found in sharing the afternoon sun sitting with a large familiar and
reliable rock, or strength to be felt hugging the rough bark of a strong
tree swaying gently in a stiff afternoon breeze. If a rose thorn
grabs our skin we bleed gladly to give back what we have taken for the
beauty of its flower. When we harvest the corn we know the
plants miss their fruit as we do our children gone away. We sing
to them, give thanks and love them for their sacrifice. The same
respect is given the animals who bleed and give their lives for us- we
sing and comfort them, and pray for a blessing for their families, that
they'll have what they need. For Human Beings, our purpose and task
is to nurture, protect and allow each family, human or not, a certain space
for its life. And we have one more obligation- to appreciate and
be grateful always- for all of our Relatives, Our Grandmother- who supports
our feet, and for the most High &Holy- who has given us this life."
We are given free-will to pursue whatever we will in our lives. It
is unfortunate that Human Beings have chosen the paths of destruction of
ourselves, our relatives and of the very Earth we rely on for our sustenance.
Like disobediant children we have pursued our interests at a breakneck
speed, disregarding the consequences.
The Hopi have a Prophecy that Humans choose which path they take.
One leads to the Creator and one to the Whirlwind. It is their opinion
that in this, the Fourth World, we have chosen the Whirlwind. Whether
or not it is too late is unknown. But whatever the outcome- our responsibilites
have never changed.
Appreciate this gift of life. Share it with all the Families of Creation.
Treat that which sustains you as Sacred, with respect. Wake up and go to
bed with the knowledge that you are never alone- and though they may not
speak it so you can hear- all your relatives on this world share
this gratitude and feel your presence. Even Nishkehehmon, our Grandmother
Earth.
The Day You Close My Eyes
There is a mountain meadow green
That waits for my return
With pine and sage and crystal streams
Lined with feathery fern.
Thickets where the fat grouse lie
Trails where elk still run
Here is a place to spread my ash
When these tumbleweed days are done.
There is a painted high plateau
That waits for my return
With prickly pear and pinion pine
Fresh cedar boughs to burn.
Arroyo beds with flashflood dreams
Chokecherries ripe and fine
Coyote howls at a million stars
And every one is mine.
There is a cold and rocky shore
That waits for my return
With green kelp whips and white driftwood
New seagull chants to learn.
Spume and froth and shifting sand
Tides mate with a yielding beach
Far horizons melt in fog
But are never out of reach.
There is a hand-drum on the wall
That waits for my return
Children that I love to squeeze
A clay pot yet to turn.
Embers crouch in a pipestone bowl
Where sweet prayers yearn to rise
All this you'll see reflected, dear
On the day you close my eyes.
early April evening 99